Elsa Fricker claims she was bitten by a spider at London Zoo Elsa Fricker

A Muay Thai boxer was this afternoon rushed to hospital for emergency surgery after a "spider bite" she allegedly sustained at London Zoo became infected.

Mum-of-four Elsa Fricker, 33, visited the zoo with a friend and her four children on September 11.

Ms Fricker, who claims she is usually fighting fit, said she noticed a sharp pain just above her left hip as the group toured the zoo’s new “In with the Spiders” room, but thought nothing of it until she became ill a short while later.

“I felt a really horrible pain in my side,” she told the Standard. “When I left the room it got really hot and I noticed a puncture mark in my side.

“I felt really light-headed. I said to my friend I didn’t feel well – I ripped off my clothes, sat down and felt sick. I was shaking and I thought I was going to pass out.”

Spider bite claim: Elsa Fricker pictured during her zoo visit on September 11 before sustaining the injury

Ms Fricker alleges she sought help at the zoo’s medical office – only to find it locked.

How dangerous is the golden silk orb-weaver?

​A bite from a golden silk orb-weaver is supposedly able to kill small birds, but is usually considered less painful than a bee-sting to humans, for whom it can cause mild pain, numbness and swelling. Occasionally nausea and dizziness can occur after a bite and in rare cases the venom can trigger an allergic reaction.

Source: ZSL/Australian Museum/Queensland Museum

“I had to call someone on the phone,” she said. “I said to the woman: ‘I’ve been bitten’. She gave me an ice pack – she didn’t take my name, number or anything.”

When she got home the injury worsened, she claims.

“It grew massive and burst with lots of pus and blood,” she said. “I’ve been extremely ill since.

“I’ve had fever, dizziness, migraine and heart palpitations. I was rushed to hospital in an ambulance last Friday because I haven’t been able to breathe.

“I’ve been on three lots of antibiotics and it’s still really uncomfortable.

“The doctors don’t know what bit me. They claim the spiders are safe in there, but this isn’t a normal bite or reaction.

Usually fighting fit: Elsa Fricker during a Muay Thai boxing session

“I only had the bite when I came out of the enclosure. It’s caused so many problems.”

As well as needing help with childcare since the injury, Ms Fricker, of Burnt Oak, said she was forced to cancel a boxing match on Monday.

As she spoke to the Standard she was this afternoon being admitted to hospital so an abscess apparently caused by the bite could be removed by surgeons. Medical documents seen by the Standard say her illness has been caused by a “suspected spider bite”.

A London Zoo spokeswoman said the spiders in the exhibit were “considered highly unlikely to bite”.

But any bite could theoretically cause an allergic reaction, she admitted.

'Massive': Elsa Fricker's 'spider bite' Elsa Fricker

“We cared for a visitor on September 12 who reported an insect bite to our first aider,” she said.

“ZSL London Zoo’s ‘In With the Spiders’ exhibit is home to Madagascan orb weaver spiders, and Australian golden orb spiders.

“These are all docile spider species that spend the majority of their time stationary on their webs and are considered highly unlikely to bite.

“[The exhibition] is staffed at all times and although the spiders are harmless to humans, any insect bite can cause an allergic reaction.

“We received a report yesterday that the visitor believes the bite was from a spider. We are of course investigating this report and will be happy to provide any medical professionals treating her with accurate information.”